By Liam Coventry-Poole
Hume City has recorded their first win in six rounds after defeating Sunshine George Cross on Monday night in extremely windy conditions at Knights Stadium. Two first half goals with the wind advantage helped Hume City brush past Sunshine George Cross.
Hume had the upper hand in the first half, with the gale blowing to their attacking end.
Hume struck early, opening the scoring in the fifth minute. Andy Vlahos’ vision on the right flank found Phillip Riccobene in a better position for a cross. Riccobene’s cross found an unmarked Richard Cardozo at the back post, who headed the ball home, giving Martin John no chance.
Sunshine had a great opportunity to pull the goal back just a few minutes later, courtesy of Douglas Cameron. Cameron was forced to a wide shooting position by some organised Hume marking, but was only 10 yards out when he forced a fingertip save by Marijo Roza, the ball destined to hit the top of the net, before being denied.
Steven Pace came close to extending the lead after a spectacular effort from 30 yards out clipped the crossbar, which stunned Martin John in goals.
The first 25 minutes was fairly poised, but Hume looked the more dangerous side, catching Sunshine’s shaky defence out time and time again. Sunshine were having a difficult time regrouping at the back whenever they turned over the ball in midfield, with attacking runs from Hume’s Cardozo, Vlahos and Riccobene hurting George Cross.
Tansel Baser came close for Hume in the 29th minute, given way too much room outside the box for a shot. His deflected strike went narrowly wide of the post for a corner.
After the corner the ball was played back into the box finding the feet of Riccobene and three other Hume players lining up for a shot.
Riccobene’s touch on in the box was enough for him to control it for a shot. The goal was a tap in, raising questions of the Sunshine defence.
Vlahos almost had another for Hume just two minutes later, after he got his head onto a well placed Aziz Behich cross. The header forced another strong save from Martin John in goals.
Sunshine’s Andrew Nabbout had a golden opportunity to pull one back just before half time, finding the ball at his feet at the back post after a deep cross from Fidell Richards. Nabbout’s shot hit the side netting, much to the frustration of the Sunshine faithful.
Although they were up against a gale in the second half, Hume continued to push for the sealer, with good movement through midfield. Sunshine was allowing Hume far too much space through the centre corridor.
A miss-hit Cardozo free kick found its way into the path of Behich on the goalmouth. Behich’s shot forced a magnificent save at feet by John, the rebound came back to Zoran Petrevski who also failed to put it into the net, with John making a second consecutive save at feet to keep Sunshine in the match.
Barry Devlin pulled one back for Sunshine in the 73rd minute, setting up for an exciting last twenty minutes to the match. Hume failed to clear a corner into the box, which eventually found the feet of Barry Devlin from 15 yards out from goal. His strike did enough and found it’s way past Marijo Roza, who wouldn’t have seen much of it with countless bodies in his way.
Although Hume seemed to be on the ropes, they continued to press in the final ten minutes, trying to put the match to bed. They were hurt up front with poor final balls from their forwards, going out two-on-two three times in the space of eight minutes.
Fidell Richards almost stunned Marijo Roza out, forcing him to punch the ball over for another corner, with Richards intelligently using the wind to his advantage.
Hume eventually held out, 2-1 winners, much to relief of the travelling supporters after a difficult six weeks behind them.
Astonishing, it was Sunshine’s sixth loss in a row, leaving them only two points above Altona Magic in last position and facing relegation with only six rounds remaining.
Hume’s first win since round 10 puts them back into third position, four points off league leaders Richmond and looking good for the finals in 2010.
Sunshine George Cross: Martin JOHN, Shaun ROMEIN, Fidell RICHARDS, Christos KONSTAS, Douglas CAMERON, Ben COGGER (Leo SHIN 70’), Andrew NABBOUT, Barry DEVLIN, Matthew CINI (Luke GROUNDS 89’), Andrew BOURAKIS (Craig SWEENEY 46’), James BLACKBURN
Unused Subs: Cameron SALIK, David STRANIERO
Yellow Cards: Christos KONSTAS 24’
Goals: Barry DEVLIN 73’
Hume City: Marijo ROZA, Serdar PIR, Richard CARDOZO, Andy VLAHOS (Jake NAKIC 70’), Tansel BASER, Michael BOSEVSKI, Zoran PETREVSKI, Dusko DELIC (Mehmet KARAKILIC 81’), Phillip RICCOBENE, Aziz BEHICH, Steven PACE
Unused subs: Ersin KAYA, Christopher AILAKIS
Goals: Richard CARDOZO 5’, Phillip RICCOBENE 29’
Last updated: Tuesday June 29, 2010 6:14PM
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